Gorgon Nut
Gorgon nut is an historical English name for Euryale ferox seeds, derived from the Gorgon of Greek mythology, referring to the spiny, Medusa-like appearance of the plant's seed pods.
The name "gorgon nut" appears in 19th-century British botanical literature describing Euryale ferox. It is rarely used in modern commerce — "fox nuts" and "makhana" have become the standard English and trade terms. The Greek reference was intended to evoke the dangerous, spiny appearance of the plant's seed pods, which are covered in sharp spines that protect the seeds until harvest. Today, the term is primarily encountered in historical texts and seed catalogues for water garden enthusiasts.
Related Terms
Euryale ferox is the scientific name of the aquatic plant that produces makhana seeds — a prickly water lily native to stagnant wetlands across South and East Asia, with its largest commercial cultivation in the Gangetic plains of Bihar, India.
Fox Nutsलोमड़ी मेवाFox nuts are the English common name for popped makhana seeds (Euryale ferox), though they are neither nuts nor related to foxes — the name likely derives from the seed's resemblance to small animal droppings or from a mistranslation.
MakhanaमखानाMakhana, also called fox nuts or phool makhana, are the popped seeds of Euryale ferox, an aquatic plant cultivated in wetland ponds across the Gangetic plains of Bihar, India.